Kavanaugh won't make traditional walk down court steps due to security concerns

Kavanaugh, who has served since being confirmed early last month, will have his formal investiture ceremony, which has often been followed by a walk -- and photo opportunity -- on the front steps with the chief justice, in this case John Roberts.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 15: Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch (L) talks with Chief Justice John Roberts (R) on the steps of the Supreme Court following his official investiture at the Supreme Court June 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. Gorsuch has been an active member of the court since his confirmation though the official investiture ceremony was held today. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

But Kavanaugh won't make the walk "out of an abundance of caution due to security concerns," Supreme Court spokesperson Kathleen Arberg said Friday.

Both Kavanaugh and California professor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford have received a slew of death threats after Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her while they were in high school, and detailed her allegation during a testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Kavanaugh denied any wrongdoing and was confirmed to the court in October after a week-long FBI investigation into the allegations made by Ford and other women.

"What happened to the Kavanaugh family violates every notion of fairness, decency and due process," said President Donald Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct himself, during Kavnanaugh's ceremonial swearing-in last month.

People "must always be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," the President continued.

The tradition of walking down the Supreme Court steps after a formal investiture ceremony -- usually done alongside the court's chief justice -- began in the 1950s, but not all justices have participated in the tradition.

Let's block ads! (Why?)